Steve Simmons
Director of Business and Economic Development at North Branch Works
- Role
- Director of Business and Economic Development at North Branch Works
- Location
- Chicago, IL, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Steve Simmons
Accomplished nonprofit professional with experience leading advocacy initiatives in multiple policy areas (workforce development, environment, economic development, and transportation). Spanish communication skills enhance work with diverse populations. Passionate about racial equity, family-sustaining jobs, small businesses, cities, trails, and writing.
Experience
Director of Business and Economic Development
Jun 2020 — Present · Chicago, IL, US
Manage all aspects of North Branch Works\' communications work, including writing and designing our bi-weekly newsletter, creating and adding new content to our blog, and posting content across our four social media platforms-Lead NBW\'s outreach to the small, industrial, and manufacturing businesses located in our service area and connect them to grants, the City of Chicago\'s economic development programs such as the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF), growth opportunities, and to each other-Grow North Branch Works\' membership by recruiting new firms and demonstrating the value of being a part of our network-Review rezoning requests and provide public testimony explaining NBW\'s position to decision-makers such as Members of City Council and the Chicago Plan Commission-Supervise Summer Associates from the University of Illinois-Chicago\'s Master of Urban Planning & Policy Program (MUPP) and help them grow and develop their talents-Identify grant opportunities for businesses and write applications, attracting funds to our area that supports business growth and expansion-Promote North Branch Works\' low-interest Small Business Loan Program, participate in the Loan Review Committee, and guide businesses through the review process-Manage all aspects of NBW\'s Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) and Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) contracts with the City of Chicago, including ensuring the NBW exceeds all of our contract deliverables-Plan and lead community events that promote businesses in the North Branch such as NBW\'s kayak tour, brewery tour, bicycle tour, and industrial business walking tour-Manage projects with external partners such as Friends of the Chicago River, World Business Chicago, SomerCor, Manufacturing Renaissance, and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center.
Education
DePauw University
Bachelor of Arts - BA, American History (United States)
University of Chicago
Master of Arts (M.A.), Social Service Adminstration
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